Balloon expandable covered stents

Abstract

The present invention provides stents for deploying within tubular organs, blood vessels, or other tubular body lumens. Such stents comprise a stent body comprising an elastic material, the stent body being characterized by a free cylindrical shape having a free diameter. The stent body is at least partially covered with a covering that substantially prevents the stent body from expanding towards its free diameter when the stent body is placed into a diameter smaller than the free diameter. In one embodiment, the covering is a metal coating on the stent body. In another embodiment, the covering is a tube, or multiple tubes, around the stent body. Also provided is a method for deploying the stents of the present invention within tubular organs, blood vessels, or other tubular body lumens.

We claim:  
     
       1. A method for deploying a stent within a body lumen, said method comprising the steps of: 
       providing a stent comprising a stent body comprising an elastic material, said stent body being characterized by a free cylindrical shape having a free diameter;  
       deforming said stent body to a diameter smaller than said free diameter;  
       covering said stent with a covering while said stent body is at said diameter smaller than said free diameter, said covering substantially preventing said stent body from expanding towards said free diameter;  
       inserting said stent into the body lumen; and,  
       mechanically expanding said stent, wherein said step of covering said stent comprises the step of electroplating a metal coating onto said stent.  
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of covering said stent comprises the step of placing a polymer tube over said stent. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of covering said stent comprises the step of placing multiple rings around said stent. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of mounting said stent onto a balloon catheter prior to the step of inserting said stent into the body. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein said step of mechanically expanding said stent comprises the step of inflating said balloon.